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SpywareGuard
Table of Contents
What is SpywareGuard? (based on help file)
SpywareGuard is a real-time anti-spyware program.
An anti-virus program scans files before you open them and prevents execution if a virus is detected - SpywareGuard does the same thing, but for spyware! SpywareGuard also provides unique Download Protection (Internet Explorer only), which blocks spyware downloads, and Browser Hijack Protection, which alerts of browser hijacking activity in real-time.
Installation
- Double click on the "SpywareGuardSetup" icon.
- On the "Setup-SpywareGuard" screen, click “Next”.
- On the next page click “Yes” to agree to the license agreement.
- Click “Next” on the following information page.
- Select the folder you would like SpywareGuard to install into, the default folder is fine, then click “Next”
- On the Select Components page, make sure ‘Full Installation’ is selected, (which is the default), and click “Next”.
- On the Select Additional Tasks page, make sure both boxes are checked, and click “Next”.
- On the Ready to Install page, click “Install”.
- Once installed, the Information page will come up, click “Next”
- Make sure the “Start SpywareGuard” box is checked and click on “Finish”.
The SpywareGuard Window
You can tell that SpywareGuard is working to protect you by looking for the SG icon
in the Windows system tray. If the icon is there SpywareGuard is running and protecting your. Use this icon to open the SpywareGuard window.
- Open the SpywareGuard window by double-clicking on the red SG icon
- SpywareGuard Status
- SpywareGuard Components - Real-time Scanning Engine, Download Protection, and Browser Hijack Protection, are listed with either a green check mark or a red X to its right. A green check means the component is active while a red X means the component in not active.
- Definitions Information - Definitions Date and Program Version are listed. Most of SpywareGuard's protection is not based on definitions. At the time of this writing, August 2004, the current definitions were release seven months ago. It's recommended to check for new definitions once a month. The current Program Version is 2.2.
- Reports - Click on the Reports button to see a list of actions SpywareGuard has taken. Clicking on the "Clear Log" button deletes the contents of the report.
- Options - There are three sub-categories with Options: General, Download Protection, and Password Settings. Click on the name of the sub-category to see the settings for each.
- General
- Enable Real-Time Scanning - The SpywareGuard real-time scanning engine provides real-time protection against spyware. It scans .EXE and .CAB files before they are opened or executed
- Enable Download Protection - SpywareGuard's Download Protection feature can block spyware from being downloaded in Internet Explorer. It is highly recommended that you keep this feature enabled, as it provides another important layer of protection.
- Enable Browser Hijack Protection - The Browser Hijacking Protection component of SpywareGuard will alert as soon as browser hijacking activity is detected. If a BHO (Browser Helper Object) is added, or if various Internet Explorer settings are changed (the homepage, search page, etc.) an alert will immediately be displayed, and the user will be given the option to ignore the change, or to revert to the previous settings. If you are also using Spybot Search and Destroy 1.3 or later you should turn Browser Hijack Protection OFF. Spybot duplicates this function and you should not have both programs trying to do the same thing at the same time! Disable Browser Hijack Protection by clicking on the check mark to the left of "Enable Browser Hijack Protection" to clear the check box (If the check box doesn't have a check mark then Browser Hijack Protection is already turned off.) then click on the "Save Settings" button.
- Download Protection - By default SpywareGuard alerts you when it blocks the installation of software or changes to Internet Explorer's settings. A window pops up that requires you to choose whether to block the change or not. If you want SpywareGuard to always block suspect installations and setting changes you can click in the "Alert only" or "Silently block" radio button then click on "Save Settings".
- Password Settings - You can require a password to open the SpywareGuard Windows. Click in the "Change Password" check box, enter the password you want in the "New Password" field, then click on "Save Settings".
- Live Update - This looks for updates to SpywareGuard's definitions file. Definitions are only used for a small portion of SpywareGuard's protection and are not updated often. It is recommended to check for new definitions once a month.
- Click on "Live Update".
- Click on "Next" in the "Live Updates" window that opens. You will either be told there are no updates are available or the updates will be installed.
- Click on "Exit".
- About - Clicking on "About" gives you basic information about the version of SpywareGuard you have installed. It also points you to the location of a web forum that includes a section about SpywareBlaster. Questions about SpywareGuard are in the "SpywareBlaster and Other" section. The forum is at http://www.wilderssecurity.com.
- Close the SpywareGuard Window - Click on the "X" icon in the top right corner of the SpywareGuard Window
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Last Modified: 8 Oct 2004
doit@sfsu.edu
